Window lock



June 23, 1925.

E. LEHMHAUS WINDOW LOCK Filed April 17 922 Patented June 23, 1925,

ELMER LEHMHAUS, or HAMILTON, OHIO.

. WINDOW LOCK;

Application filed April 1 7, 1922. SerialNo. 553,526.

T all "to/ m it may concern: V Be it known that I, ELMER Lin-tinnitus, a

citizen of the United States, residing at I lamilton, in the oountyof Butler and State 5 of Ohio, have invented certain new .anduseful Improvements in Window Locks, of which the following is a specification, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings. f t

This invention relates to window locks and has for its object to provide Ja'lock of this character which is automatic in its operation to lock thewindow upon lowering of the same.

Another object is to provide a lock of this character wherein means are provided for holding the lock in its operative or inoperative position independently of the actuating means of the lock. a

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lock of this character wherein the means for holding the lock in its inoperative position may be rendered operative or inoperative by adjustmentto permit automatic LO operation of the lock.

It'is a still further object of the invention to provide a lock of this character having locking means which when once released are slidable on the locking bolt of the lock and adapted to. automatically enter thevlocking bolt at various points to hold the locking bolt in the desired position. It is also an object of the invention to provide a window lock of this character including a gravity operated latch adapted to hold the locking bolt of the lock in its operative or inoperative position, by cooperating with the housing of the locking bolt to obstruct the passage of the bolt therethrough at certain times.

W ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts, to be hereinafter more particularly described, fully claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of an upper and lower window sash showing the invention applied; I

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of a window lock showing the safety pawl inits locked position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lock housing and keeper, the housing being shown no section; and

Figure 4 is a pawl. f 1

Referring to the drawings,5 designates a lock housing, said housing having oppositely extending extensions 6 and 7, provided with openings adapted to receive fastening means through the medium of which the housing perspective view of the latch PATE T emc '5 is secured to the upper rail of the lower sash of a window, and centrally of said'rail. The forward end 8 of the housing is provided with a relatively large opening 9, while the rear end 10 of the housing is provided with a relatively small opening 11.

Slidable within the housing is a lock bolt 12, having the usual beveled face 13 and shank 14 which projects from the inner face of the bolt, the shank being substantially circular in=cross section and adapted to pass through the opening 11 of the housing, the

bolt 12 being movable through the opening 9 of the housing. A coil spring 15 is carried by the shank 1-1 within the housing, one end of said spring engaging the inner face of the bolt 12, while the opposite end engages the end 10 of the housing, said spring normally urging the bolt outwardly of the housing to its locked position. The extremity "of the shank is provided with a knob 16 which is threaded thereon to permit removalof the bolt when necessary, by removing the knob 16. p

A keeper member 17 is provided, said keeper having oppositely extending ears 18 and 19 provided with openings adapted to receive fastening means. The keeper 17 is intended to .be positioned centrally ofthe lower rail of the upper sash closely adjacent the end 8 of the housing, and in a position to receive the lock bolt 12, the beveled face 13 of the bolt being adapted to engage the upper edge of the keeper, so as to permit automatic operation of the look when the window is lowered.

In order to increase the security of the lock and at the same time provide means whereby the lock may be rendered inopera tive when desired, there is provided a novel locking mechanism comprising a latch pawl 20, consisting of a length of material having a relatively broad end 21, said length tapering longitudinally to the opposite end 22,

the latch pawl to provide a finger piece. rt

the end 22 being extended at right angles to pivot opening 23 is provided in the plate adjacent one corner of the end 21 at a point spaced from the lower edge 20" of the plate.

The latch pawl 20 is intended to engage the end 10 of the housing to one side of the opening 11, the pivot opening 28 of the latch pawl being disposed above the openings and 7 arranged to receive a pin 24:. In view of the eccentric pivot, gravity will constantly urge the pawl toward the opening 11. The latch pawl is pivoted in such a manner that the central portion of the latch pawl is disposed closely adjacent the opening 11. The shank 14C of of the lock bolt is provided with spaced slots 25 and 26, said slots being slightly wider than the thickness of the latch pawl.

In the operation of the device, when it is desired that the window sashes remain unlocked in their closed positions, the bolt 12 is drawn inwardly of the housing 5,

against the tension of the spring, the

latch pawl in the meantime riding on the surface of the shank. lrfter the slot 26 passes through the opening 11 into the path of movement of the latch pawl 20, said pawl enters the slot through the medium of gravity and there y locks the bolt, movement of the bolt in either direction being prevented. No amount of vibration or like force will cause the pawl 21 to accidentally disengage the bolt, as the eccentric pivot of the pawl permits gravity and friction to hold the latch within the slot. Particular attention is directed to the fact that since the pivot of the pawl is spaced from the lower or engaging edge 20 of the plate a considerable distance, this edge of the plate in addition to swinging upwardly will also shift longitudinally, thus increasing the friction between the bolt and the pawl and lessening the chances of accidental disengagement thereof. To release the bolt it is only necessary to swing the latch pawl upwardly, whereupon the spring 15 will urge the bolt into the keeper. If it is desired to assist the spring in holding the bolt in its locked position, the latch pawl is again swung downwardly so as to enter the slot 25, thereby cooperating with the spring to prevent retraction of the bolt, so that the insertion of an instrument between the rails of the window sashes by an unauthorized person will not release the lock. V hen not in use, the pawl may be swung to one side toward the ear '4' out of the path of movement of the locking bolt. At the same time it is only necessary to swing the latch pawl toward the shank 14L beyond the center of gravity to cause automatic operation of the latch pawl.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that this invention provides a novel form of window lock which is simple and compact in form, occupies a small space centrally of the window sash, and while it is automatic in its locking operation, in view of the latch, it cannot be forced open. Furthermore, the novel latch pawl increases the security of the lock bolt in its locked position, in addition to holding the bolt in its unlocked position.

W hat is claimed is A window lock comprising a keeper carried by one sash, a housing mounted on the other sash and having an attaching plate portion, the wall of the housing toward the first named sash being formed with a rectangular opening and the opposite wall being formed with a circular hole, and a bolt including a cylindrical stein slidable through said hole and further including a head slidable througl'i said opening and adapted to engage within the keeper, a coil spring within the housing bearing against the head and against the oposite wall of the housing for normally urging the bolt into extended position, a handle knob on the free end of the stem outwardly of the housing, the stem of the bolt being provided with spaced notches and a plate pivoted to the second named wall of the housing and having a lower edge adapted to engage in said notches, the pivot of the plate being spaced from said edge of the plate a considerable distance whereby the plate at its point of engagement in the notch shifts longitudinally through the notch when the plate is elevated.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ELMEE LEHMHAU3. 

